George JohnSpencer, 2nd Earl Spencer was born on 1 September 1758 at Wimbledon, London, EnglandG.1 He was the son of JohnSpencer, 1st Earl Spencer and Margaret GeorgianaPoyntz.3,4 He was baptised on 16 October 1758 at Wimbledon, London, EnglandG, with KingGeorge IIofGreat Britain, WilliamClavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper, DuchessofMarlborough and Dowager ViscountessBateman as his godparent(s).1 He married LadyLaviniaBingham, daughter of CharlesBingham, 1st Earl of Lucan and MargaretSmith, on 6 March 1781 at Charles Street, Mayfair, London, EnglandG.5 He died on 10 November 1834 at age 76 at Althorp, Brington, Northamptonshire, EnglandG.5 He was buried on 19 November 1834 at Brington, Northamptonshire, EnglandG.5 His will was proven (by probate) in 1834.6 He was styled as Viscount Spencer of Althorp between 1765 and 1783.1 He was educated from 1770 to 1775 at Harrow School, Harrow, London, EnglandG, where he was the last winner of the Silver Arrow in 1771.1 He was educated from 1776 to 1778 at Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, EnglandG.1 He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, EnglandG, in 1778 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)1 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Whig) for Northamptonshire from 1780 to 1782.1 He was appointed Fellow, Royal Society (F.R.S.) on 6 April 1780.4 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Whig) for Surrey from 1782 to 1783.1 He held the office of Lord of the Treasury from March 1782 to July 1782.1 He held the office of High Steward of St. Albans from 1783 to 1807.1 He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Spencer of Althorp [G.B., 1761] on 31 October 1783.3 He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Althorp [G.B., 1765] on 31 October 1783.3 He succeeded as the 2nd Earl Spencer [G.B., 1765] on 31 October 1783.1,3 He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Spencer of Althorp [G.B., 1761] on 31 October 1783.3 He was appointed Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) on 28 April 1785.1 He held the office of Mayor of St. Albans in 1790.1 He graduated from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, EnglandG, on 3 July 1793 with a honorary Doctorate of Civil Law (D.C.L.)1 He gained the rank of Colonel on 9 May 1794 in the Northampton Regiment of Yeomanry.1 He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 11 July 1794.1 He held the office of Lord Privy Seal between 11 July 1794 and December 1794.1 He held the office of a Special Embassy to Vienna from 19 July 1794 to October 1794.1 He held the office of First Lord of the Admiralty between December 1794 and February 1801.1 He was appointed Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 1 March 1799.1 He held the office of Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1806 to 1807.1 He held the office of President of the Royal Institution from 1813 to 1825.5 He held the office of Commissioner of the Public Records in 1831.5 Cockayne quotes, "Mrs. Delany writes of him in 1780 as 'never handsome, but always agreeable, and a fine young man.5' " Cockayne states, "the accounts of him and his wife in the Farington Diary run thus: 5 July 1794, 'Lord Spencer is considered as being very retired, as to his neighbours, in the country. He has withdrawn all political views of the Town of Northampton, and never interferes in their election ... [He] is much respected. Lady S. loves her ease, and is attached to her amusements;' and: 11 Nov 1816, 'The manner of Lord Spencer is dry; but Lady Spencer speaks upon any subject and with great confidence in Her own opinion ... she is become very large in Her person, and uses a stick while walking.5' " "He was one of the Whigs who supported Pitt's administration from the end of 1794 to 1801. 'For him, more distinctly perhaps than for any other English administrator, may be claimed the title of oganiser of victory. It was under his rule that the battles of St. Vincent and Camperdown were fought and won; that the treasonable revolt at the Nore was suppressed; and it was still more directly by him that Nelson was singled out for independent command and sent into the Mediterranean to win the battle of the Nile.1' " Cockayne writes, "he was well known in the literary world as a book collector and is said to have formed at Althorp the finest private library in Europe." This collection consisted of 40,000 books, including many examples of early illuminated works. This collection was sold by the 5th Earl Spencer to Manchester University in 1892 to form the Rylands Library.1

LadyLaviniaBingham was born on 27 July 1762 at Castlebar, County Mayo, IrelandG.3 She was the daughter of CharlesBingham, 1st Earl of Lucan and MargaretSmith.1,3 She married George JohnSpencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, son of JohnSpencer, 1st Earl Spencer and Margaret GeorgianaPoyntz, on 6 March 1781 at Charles Street, Mayfair, London, EnglandG.3 She died on 8 June 1831 at age 68 at Spencer House, St. James's Place, St. James's, London, EnglandG.3 She was buried at Brington, Northamptonshire, EnglandG.3 After her marriage, Lady Lavinia Bingham was styled as Viscountess Althorp on 6 March 1781. From 6 March 1781, her married name became Spencer. After her marriage, Lady Lavinia Bingham was styled as Countess Spencer on 31 October 1783. Cockayne writes that "she was 'a woman of great beauty and intelligence, brilliance of conversation and charm of character,' but her sister-in-law, Lady Bessborough, writes from Althorp, 9 Jan 1810, writes from Althorp of 'her cleverness (which term peculiarly suits her in every way) ... coarseness of mind, as well as of expression ... intolerance ... the most extravagant abuse, the most unsparing scrutiny. Nothing escapes: character, understanding, opinions, dress, person, age, infirmity - all fall equally under [her] scalping knife.' She also mentions Lady Spencer's 'excellent understanding ... Political Asperity ... exterminating Virtue and stern Piety.3' " Cockayne states, "the accounts of him and his wife in the Farington Diary run thus: 5 July 1794, 'Lord Spencer is considered as being very retired, as to his neighbours, in the country. He has withdrawn all political views of the Town of Northampton, and never interferes in their election ... [He] is much respected. Lady S. loves her ease, and is attached to her amusements;' and: 11 Nov 1816, 'The manner of Lord Spencer is dry; but Lady Spencer speaks upon any subject and with great confidence in Her own opinion ... she is become very large in Her person, and uses a stick while walking.3' "